Chapter 6 - Donald's Last WarningThe basement became chaos.

Mr. Nwosu pushed Chioma behind a concrete pillar.

Emeka pulled a metal bar from a shelf.

Another gunshot echoed through the house.

“Stay down!” Emeka shouted.

Chioma covered her mouth.

Donald was upstairs.

But how had he found them?

The lights flickered back on.

Footsteps moved across the floor above.

Slow.

Confident.

Unhurried.

Donald was not searching randomly.

He knew exactly where they were.

“There's another exit,” Emeka whispered.

“Where?”

“Through the storage room.”

They moved quickly.

But before they reached it, the basement door slammed open.

A man in black stood on the stairs.

He raised his weapon.

Emeka threw the metal bar.

The man stumbled.

Mr. Nwosu grabbed Chioma.

“RUN!”

They raced through the storage room.

Boxes crashed behind them.

A second man entered the basement.

Then Donald's voice echoed through the house.

“Chioma!”

She stopped.

Emeka pulled her forward.

“No.”

Donald shouted again.

“I know you're with Emeka!”

Chioma looked back.

Donald laughed.

“You think he can save you?”

They escaped through the rear door and disappeared into the trees.

For almost an hour, they ran.

Finally, they reached an abandoned farm hut.

Chioma collapsed against the wall.

“Why was he there?”

Emeka looked at her.

“Because someone told him.”

Chioma thought of her mother.

“No.”

“He found us too quickly.”

“My mother?”

Emeka didn't answer.

That answer was enough.

By dawn, they returned secretly to the village.

Ebere was waiting.

The moment she saw Emeka, she nearly fainted.

“Jesus…”

Chioma stepped in front of her.

“You knew he was alive.”

Ebere began crying.

“Please.”

“You knew.”

“I did.”

“For how long?”

“Three years.”

Chioma felt something inside her break.

“You let me believe he abandoned me.”

“I was afraid.”

“You watched me marry another man.”

“I thought Donald would keep you safe.”

“He nearly killed me!”

Ebere's knees weakened.

“I know.”

Chioma pointed at her.

“You knew what he was.”

“I knew enough.”

“Then why?”

Ebere looked toward the floor.

“Because he threatened Dubem.”

Silence.

Chioma looked at her brother.

Dubem's face was pale.

“What did he threaten?”

Ebere whispered:

“His life.”

Dubem stared at his mother.

“You never told me.”

“I was protecting you.”

Emeka stepped forward.

“Donald has threatened everyone around Chioma.”

“What does he want now?” Chioma asked.

Emeka's face hardened.

“Your land.”

“How do we stop him?”

“We prove what he has done.”

“Proof?”

“The files in the basement.”

“They'll be gone.”

“They might be.”

“Then what?”

Emeka looked at her.

“There is a second file.”

“Where?”

“Inside your wedding ring.”

Chioma stared.

“My ring?”

Emeka nodded.

“Donald had a habit of recording everything.”

“Why would it be in my ring?”

“Because the ring contains a hidden memory chip.”

Chioma touched the ring.

She had never known.

“Why didn't you tell me before?”

“Because I thought you would never trust me again.”

Chioma removed the ring.

“Take it out.”

Emeka looked at her.

“We need a computer.”

Suddenly Dubem rushed inside.

“Someone is at the gate!”

Everyone froze.

“Who?”

Dubem's face had gone white.

“The police.”

Chioma stared.

“Police?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Dubem swallowed.

“They say Emeka is wanted for murder.”

Emeka's eyes closed.

Chioma whispered:

“Whose murder?”

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Dubem answered:

“Donald's brother.”